Anyone reload 460 S&W mag?

[gspn]

I'm starting to reload for my .460 XVR. After some difficulty in tracking down the dies and brass, I find myself at a loss to find bullets.

I'm trying to find 200 grain Hornady FTX bullets...but every place I know to look is sold out...and some say they won't even take it on backorder. Is this the norm for this bullet?

Also, when loading near the full pressure end of the spectrum, how many loads to you get out of your brass?

 

[Rule3]

I did, but just sold my gun, brass and dies. I have bullets, Sent you a PM

 

[gamestalker]

I've load 44 mag, 444, 45 LC, and have loaded for the 500 S&W mag, but not the .460 yet.

But in general and regarding the life span if brass with these big bore magnum cartridges, they can last for many reloadings, even when running full pressure loads. Usually, and almost always, the primer getting loose, or splitting mouths will be the first clue they are reaching the end of their life.

The best way to extend the life of this magnum cartridge and others if running full pressure magnum loads, is to be careful not to bell the mouths more aggressively than absolutely necessary to seat a bullet, and the same approach regarding the crimp. Primer pocket life will vary according to the pressure of the load being used.

I once knew a fellow some years ago that said he would put his brass in a pan of water, leaving only a very small portion of the case mouth exposed above the water line, then anneal the exposed portion of the mouths, which he claimed reduced premature mouth splits. This was with 45 LC if I recall correctly. Interesting concept , but I never felt the desire, or the need to try this technique, maybe some day just for giggles though.

But to put a number of how many times it can be loaded, well that's just about impossible considering the number of variables involved, head stamps, the intensity of the loads used, and how aggressive the crimp is will all effect case life.

GS

 

[buck460XVR]

My advice, unless you are only going to shoot paper or varmints with your X-Frame, use something other than the 200 grainers. The XTP-Mags(240 and 300 gr) are readily found and every bit as accurate. What you will find with the 200 grainers is they print about 12'' lower than the 300s and are too fragile to use on deer size game. If you want reduce recoil plinking bullets any .45 caliber bullet will work, but if you are runnin' legitimate .460 velocities, use a bullet intended for those velocities, i.e the XTP Mags, 300 gr Deep Curls or the Sierra 300 grainers. I like IMR4227 in my .460, but H110/W296 works very well also and may give a tad more velocity. The 4227 loads will be near or at compressed. Increase you powder charges in very small increments as you work up your loads and the minute cases start to stick.....back down. As for case life....figure about the same as a bottle neck rifle cartridge that runs about the same pressure. It won't be the case necks that fail first.

 

[Grumulkin]

I'm starting to reload for my .460 XVR. After some difficulty in tracking down the dies and brass, I find myself at a loss to find bullets.

I'm trying to find 200 grain Hornady FTX bullets...but every place I know to look is sold out...and some say they won't even take it on backorder. Is this the norm for this bullet?

Also, when loading near the full pressure end of the spectrum, how many loads to you get out of your brass?

If you wish to load pointy tipped bullets just get Hornady .452 diameter SST/ML bullets (that would be their muzzle loader bullets). A better choice for a revolver is Hornady's XTP Mag bullets.

In my Encore I get 2 or 3 reloadings before I start to get incipient head separations. In a revolver, you will start to get quite sticky ejections before you reach the pressure I get in the Encore so brass life in a revolver will be quite a bit better.

The only new brass I resize before loading is 460 S&W brass to be shot in a revolver. If you don't and are shooting full pressure loads, the bullets will move under recoil. In fact, I had to get a custom made Lee Factory Crimp Die to prevent bullets from moving. The Lee FCD die recommendation applies especially to bullets without a cannelure.

 

[Walkalong]

Does it crimp like th rifle FCD?

 

[gspn]

What you will find with the 200 grainers is they ... are too fragile to use on deer size game.

Most of what I'd be hunting with this gun are small whitetail doe. Most of them in the area I hunt are between 90 and 110 lbs.

If I shot a buck, it would be an older class animal and likely weigh 165 to 200 lbs (big for my area).

Do you think the 200 grain FTX would perform adequately on those types of animals?

I have no problems switching to the heavier bullets, I just like the idea of the speed/flat trajectory that comes with the 200's. I've got no experience with that bullet on game though, so I'm open to suggestion.

thx

 

[Rule3]

Do not under estimate that "little" 200 grain bullet. It also depends on your barrel length. It was designed for tube magazines but is positively brutal out of a 5" SW 460 revolver, I am not a hunter but been around enough of them and game and would have no issue shooting small deer at handgun range,

The longer barreled handguns come with 2 rear sights to adjust for shooting 45 Colt and 454 Casull.

 

[gspn]

Here's a question I can't find an answer to...if it's a .45 caliber bullet...why did they choose to name it a .460 magnum?

I'm loading it with bullets that are .452 in diameter, the case is .478 in diameter...I just wonder where the .460 came from.

 

[Sunray]

"...why did they choose to name it a .460 magnum?..." Marketing that has nothing to do with the cartridge dimensions. Couldn't call it a .45 Mag because that exists.
Midway lists Hornady brass at $35.99 per 50. ALL .452 bullets marketed as for the .460 as out of stock, no backorder. Other plated and jacketed over 230 are readily available.
Die sets start at $52.99.

 

[buck460XVR]

Midway lists Hornady brass at $35.99 per 50. ALL .452 bullets marketed as for the .460 as out of stock, no backorder. .

3 of the 4 bullets I listed in my previous post are available at Midway. Only the Deep-Curls are out of stock. I personally like the Deep-Curls the best of any. Again all of those are quite adequate for .460 velocities and will perform well outta a revolver. Thinner jacketed .45 caliber bullets intended for .45 Colt, while they will work fine for reduced loads may cause premature forcing cone erosion and will have poor terminal performance on deer size game.

Most of what I'd be hunting with this gun are small whitetail doe. Most of them in the area I hunt are between 90 and 110 lbs.

If I shot a buck, it would be an older class animal and likely weigh 165 to 200 lbs (big for my area).

Do you think the 200 grain FTX would perform adequately on those types of animals?

I have no problems switching to the heavier bullets, I just like the idea of the speed/flat trajectory that comes with the 200's. I've got no experience with that bullet on game though, so I'm open to suggestion.

thx

While the 200 FTXs may work fine on smaller deer, at close range they can be almost explosive. First and only deer I ever shot with the 200 grainers was @ about 15 yards. Hit her square in the shoulder and it looked like I hit a red pumpkin. She went down like a rock and while I waited to see if a buck was following her, she got back up and made it into a waist deep swamp. When I found her the next day(after the coyotes did) it appeared the bullet blew up on her shoulder and never penetrated the chest cavity. Since then, deer I've shot with 300 grainers went down and stayed down with a big hole on both sides. The slight amount of range increase you will is see from the 200s over the 240 gr XTP-Mags is quite insignificant.

I do not use Lil Gun in any of my revolvers and it would be one of my last choices in a .460 revolver. Like Grumulkin, if I use my cases for more than 4 or 5 full pressure loadings, I will start to get incipient head separations. I've found Starline Brass gives me a bit more lives as compared to Hornady, but I keep track of the number of loadings with each batch of brass and after 4 full house loadings, I relinquish it to reduced loads. P.C. XVRs are known to have tight throast and much of the early recipes have been reduced because of this. Buffalo Bore reduced its loads for the .460 because of this. Truth be told, the .460 does not need to be loaded to max to be efficient and deadly on deer sized game. Load for accuracy first. I reload for other magnum calibers, but the .460 is a whole different beast. Folks that have never reloaded for the caliber should refrain from giving anything other than basic advice to others looking to reload it.

 

[gspn]

it appeared the bullet blew up on her shoulder and never penetrated the chest cavity.

Very interesting. I understand all too well the frustration with that type of bullet performance. My son shot a whitetail buck in the shoulder with a Hornady SST a few years ago and I had the exact same thing happen. Bullet splattered on the shoulder and never made it into the chest cavity.

It took several hours of hard core tracking to find that deer...it was 311 yards away from where it was shot.

I'll find something heavier than the 200's to hunt with.

 

[CZ223]

I am just starting to reload for the 460 as well

I am more interested in the other end of the spectrum. I want to focus on reloading the heavy bullets from 300 up to 400 grains. I purchased 100, 300 grain XTPs for starters and am lookin for heavier bullets. I thought Hornady made a 325 but I can't find any. I am also interested in trying some heavy lead Loads like Oregon trail 360 and the same weight bullet from cast precision bullets. I also reload for the 500 as well so any info on a common powders would be helpful.

 

[Grumulkin]

Does it crimp like th rifle FCD?

Yes it does.

 

[TimSr]

I load for .454 Casull and always wondered the need for the 460, but I do understand critical bullet selection, as they both share similiar bullet requirements. 454 Casull was the original 45LC magnum which probably accounts for the 460 designation.

Do you think the 200 grain FTX would perform adequately on those types of animals?

Why go with "adequate" when you can get "consistently well"? I swear by Hornady XTP-Mags, but Buck mentions others DESIGNED for this type gun as well. (Make sure its XTP-MAG and not XTP) XTP-MAG bullets deliver great accuracy. The FTX is not designed for pistol, and I'm not even sure their length is short enough to work in a revolver. At hyper velocities like 460, heavier bullets will travel slower, and stay togther better on impact.

Buck mentions the 460 need not be loaded to full potential, and I totally agree. the .454 Casull (460 short) is overkill for big Ohio deer well beyond 100 yards.

For those wanting super heavy cast bullets, Penn Bullets has some "Casull Bullets' that should be good for 460 as well. I can't adjust the sights far enough for those big heavies though.

I've not found any real difference in revolver case life whether it be loaded hot or mild. I've got Freedom Arms 454 Casull brass from the 80's with 10 or 12 full power loadings, and have never yet thrown one away.

 

[Grumulkin]

I've not found any real difference in revolver case life whether it be loaded hot or mild.

Then your hot must me milder than my hot.

 

[buck460XVR]

Buck mentions the 460 need not be loaded to full potential, and I totally agree. the .454 Casull (460 short) is overkill for big Ohio deer well beyond 100 yards.

As compared to what? A .44 mag? The reason I hunt with a .460 is for the extended range it has over most any other big-bore revolver. I've killed deer with .357s and .44s as well as the .460. As for overkill well past 100 yards, it still does not have the velocity or muzzle energy of any modern rifle deer caliber. Those must all be extreme overkill. But dead is dead. You can't kill anything more than dead, and since all responsible hunters quest for a quick and humane kill, how is a caliber that may kill faster and cleaner considered overkill?

 

[gamestalker]

^^^ this. I've never quite grasped the nature of that expression "over kill' either. Dead is dead, an efficient clean kill is always the goal I thought.

GS

 

[dickydalton]

3 of the 4 bullets I listed in my previous post are available at Midway. Only the Deep-Curls are out of stock. I personally like the Deep-Curls the best of any. Again all of those are quite adequate for .460 velocities and will perform well outta a revolver. Thinner jacketed .45 caliber bullets intended for .45 Colt, while they will work fine for reduced loads may cause premature forcing cone erosion and will have poor terminal performance on deer size game.






While the 200 FTXs may work fine on smaller deer, at close range they can be almost explosive. First and only deer I ever shot with the 200 grainers was @ about 15 yards. Hit her square in the shoulder and it looked like I hit a red pumpkin. She went down like a rock and while I waited to see if a buck was following her, she got back up and made it into a waist deep swamp. When I found her the next day(after the coyotes did) it appeared the bullet blew up on her shoulder and never penetrated the chest cavity. Since then, deer I've shot with 300 grainers went down and stayed down with a big hole on both sides. The slight amount of range increase you will is see from the 200s over the 240 gr XTP-Mags is quite insignificant.

I do not use Lil Gun in any of my revolvers and it would be one of my last choices in a .460 revolver. Like Grumulkin, if I use my cases for more than 4 or 5 full pressure loadings, I will start to get incipient head separations. I've found Starline Brass gives me a bit more lives as compared to Hornady, but I keep track of the number of loadings with each batch of brass and after 4 full house loadings, I relinquish it to reduced loads. P.C. XVRs are known to have tight throast and much of the early recipes have been reduced because of this. Buffalo Bore reduced its loads for the .460 because of this. Truth be told, the .460 does not need to be loaded to max to be efficient and deadly on deer sized game. Load for accuracy first. I reload for other magnum calibers, but the .460 is a whole different beast. Folks that have never reloaded for the caliber should refrain from giving anything other than basic advice to others looking to reload it.

I am curious as to why you won't use Lil Gun. That's all I have loaded in my 460 and haven't had any issues that I know of.

 

[Grumulkin]

I am curious as to why you won't use Lil Gun. That's all I have loaded in my 460 and haven't had any issues that I know of.

The issue you may not know of would be the early burning out of the proximal part of the barrel.

Several years ago on another forum, the Lil' Gun came up in regards to using it in Freedom Arms 454 Casull revolvers. The big guy at Freedom Arms ended up posting information on it's use; i.e., he had several instances of very early (in a few hundred rounds) loss of accuracy in Freedom Arms revolvers caused by barrel erosion from Lil' Gun loads. Apparently Lil' Gun burns very hot and while suitable for 410 Shotgun loads isn't a good powder for revolvers.

Sadly, shortly before that pronouncement, I had bought a pound of Lil' Gun that remains unopened to this day.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

In that same post the Freedom Arms smith said Lil Gun Speeds up top strap cutting. I have never used Lil Gun in revolvers and never will. I have not seen evidence of this but if it is beating up Freedom Arms revolvers their word is good enough for me. Plus there are many other powders out there that do just as well.

I reload for the 460 and 500, I have been reloading for them since their introduction. I wrote about the experience here http://www.dayattherange.com/?p=2599, might be worth the read as S&W did a little something different in the rifling of the 500 and 460.

As for reloads I wouldn't worry about the longevity of the brass, I have only purchased brass once and it is holding up fine, but according to my log book the 500 has only been reloaded 5 times and the 460 4 times. Again reloading since it's inception 2003 and 2005.

On the bullets I have reloaded both the 200 and the 240mag xtp. I have not had issue with either but I prefer the 240gr mag/xtp.

I have developed a lot of loads for both of these cartridges that I have shot over my chronograph, I also am a quickload user which I use to double check my reloading manuals. Maybe one day I will take these loads and put them on my website as a dedicated reloading Behemoth Magnum Page

I don't mean this is a negative way, but stop worrying, reload some safe loads and get out there and have a blast I promise you, you will be glad you did

 

[joem1945]

I only use H110 and Hornady XTP bullets.

 

[TimSr]

I have never used Lil Gun in revolvers and never will. I have not seen evidence of this but if it is beating up Freedom Arms revolvers their word is good enough for me.

me too!